A Green River woman was arrested Tuesday after methamphetamine was allegedly found in the system of a seven-month-old infant.
Connie Faye Hanks, 58, was arrested April 5, 2016 by Sweetwater County officers and charged with felony Endangering Children- Controlled Substances and felony-grade Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine).
Hanks appeared before Circuit Court Judge John Prokos in Green River Wednesday morning, and her bond was set at $40,000 cash or surety. JailTracker shows that Hanks was released from the Sweetwater County Detention Facility shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. She is scheduled to appear again in court on April 12 at 2 p.m.
Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell said through a press release that deputies and county detectives began their investigation on March 5, when a seven-month-old infant having seizures was brought to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, where tests determined there was methamphetamine in her system. She was life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she remained for several days before being released into the custody of the Wyoming Department of Family Services.
Detectives determined that the baby had been at Hanks’ Green River residence with a relative on the 5th, and began having the seizures about 30 minutes after leaving. A search warrant was executed for Hanks’s home and the following items were recovered, as described in court documents:
- “-White crystalline substance located in a clear baggie in the kitchen on black wire shelving in a glass jar that had flowers on the outside. The substance tested presumptive positive for Methamphetamine and weighed 2.19 grams.
- “-Multiple new clear baggies located on the same black wire shelving inside a black and white sunglass case.
- “-Clear plastic baggie with residue located in the bathroom closet.
- “-Wooden box with imprint of a rabbit with residue located in the master bedroom in a jewelry box.
- “-Clear baggie with white crystalline substance located in the bathroom, which weighed .04 grams.
- “-Clear baggie with white crystalline substance located in the trunk of a Nissan Sentra in a green pouch with ‘Mexico’ imprinted on the front. Inside the pouch was a copy of Connie Hanks’ driver’s license. The white crystalline substance weighed 1.3 grams and tested presumptive positive for Methamphetamine.
- “The total weight of the white crystalline substance found at the address was 3.53 grams.”
Lowell said his agency’s investigation is continuing and additional arrests may be forthcoming.
Detectives are interviewing Hanks’ associates and friends and are asking that anyone with information come forward.
Endangering Children – Controlled Substances carries a maximum possible penalty of five years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of $5,000, or both. The possession charge is punishable by imprisonment for not more than seven years, a fine of not more than $15,000, or both.